Zeal Onboard
zeal.com
What it is
Zeal Onboard automates onboarding for 1099 and W-2 workers, combining documents, tax forms, e-signatures, certifications, and remote I-9 with E-Verify. Employers can configure what information to collect and invite workers through a link. The remote I-9 process supports reviews, mobile image capture, location sharing, and E-Verify confirmation. Customers can upload their own documents, add data fields, and set rules for which workers receive each document. The same flow can collect later changes, including tax withholding updates, licenses, certifications, and other paperwork. Onboarding can be branded or customized through the API, then offered as an embedded flow or link. Workers can use a desktop or mobile browser, or a white-labeled mobile app when enabled. Zeal lists integrations for ATS, timekeeping, benefits, registration, background screening, and tax registration; its API can connect internal systems and other tools. The company says it maintains SOC 2 certification and provides implementation, migration, configuration, integration help, and continuing support. Pricing is on request.
Spec sheet
- What it does
- Zeal Onboard automates onboarding for 1099 contractors and W-2 employees, combining documents, tax forms, electronic signatures, certifications and remote I-9/E-Verify in one workflow.Read 15 Oct 2026 · zeal.com
- Intended users
- Zeal describes Onboard as built for staffing companies, on-demand labor marketplaces, EOR/PEOs, and workforce-management tools.Read 7 Oct 2026 · zeal.com
- API
- Zeal provides a REST API with request and response examples and uses API keys for sandbox or production access.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.zeal.com
- Integrations
- Listed integration categories include ATS, benefits, registrations, timekeeping, employment verification, location intelligence, tax registrations, background screening, insurance and healthcare insurance.Read 15 Oct 2026 · zeal.com
- Security
- Zeal says it maintains SOC 2 certification for data security, availability, and confidentiality.Read 7 Oct 2026 · zeal.com
- Support
- Zeal says its implementation team handles data migration, project management, and configuration, with ongoing post-launch support, integration help, and compliance guidance.Read 7 Oct 2026 · zeal.com
- Headquarters
- San Francisco, California, United StatesRead 28 Sep 2026 · zeal.com
- Founded
- 2019Read 28 Sep 2026 · zeal.com
- Apple system requirement
- The iPhone app requires iOS 15.1 or later.Read 15 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
- Banking partner
- Banking services are provided by Bangor Savings Bank, which is a member of the FDIC.Read 15 Oct 2026 · zeal.com
- Branding and API
- Onboarding can be white-labeled or customized through the API, and launched as an embedded flow or a link.Read 7 Oct 2026 · zeal.com
- Company headquarters
- Crunchbase lists Zeal headquarters in San Francisco, California, United States.Read 15 Oct 2026 · crunchbase.com
- Company legal name
- The legal entity behind Zeal is Puzzl Group Inc.Read 15 Oct 2026 · crunchbase.com
- Company size
- Crunchbase places Zeal in the 11–50 employee range.Read 15 Oct 2026 · crunchbase.com
- Configurable data collection
- Administrators configure onboarding selections and send workers into the flow through a link.Read 15 Oct 2026 · zeal.com
- Configurable flows
- Employers can configure data collection and send workers into onboarding with a link.Read 7 Oct 2026 · zeal.com
- Custom documents
- Customers can upload documents, add custom fields and use rules to determine which workers receive them.Read 15 Oct 2026 · zeal.com
- Developer documentation
- Public documentation covers account setup, API keys, quickstart, employer and worker onboarding, payroll, contractor payments, dashboards, reports and tax compliance.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.zeal.com
- E-Verify
- The I-9 product is integrated with E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility.Read 15 Oct 2026 · zeal.com
- Electronic signatures
- The workflow captures compliant electronic signatures on documents.Read 15 Oct 2026 · zeal.com
- Founding
- Zeal says it was founded in 2019 in San Francisco by Kirti Shenoy and Pranab Krishnan.Read 15 Oct 2026 · zeal.com
- Funding
- Zeal says it raised a $13 million Series A in 2021 and a $15 million Series B in 2023.Read 15 Oct 2026 · zeal.com
- Google Play data disclosure
- The Android listing says the app may share financial information, photos and videos plus other data, may collect location and personal information, encrypts data in transit and supports deletion requests.Read 15 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
- Implementation
- Zeal says its implementation team can migrate data and project-manage transformation work.Read 15 Oct 2026 · zeal.com
- Independent assessment
- HR Software describes Zeal as strongest for vertical SaaS platforms and staffing agencies embedding payroll and instant payouts.Read 15 Oct 2026 · hr.software
- Limit: development effort
- The independent review says Zeal requires development resources and is not an off-the-shelf HR or payroll system.Read 15 Oct 2026 · hr.software
- Limit: Google Play sign-in
- Google Play reviewers report that the app sometimes fails to open or sign in and can show an error code.Read 15 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
- Limit: quote-based pricing
- The independent review reports that pricing is quote-based and buyers should verify revenue-share terms and minimum-volume requirements.Read 15 Oct 2026 · hr.software
- Mobile app
- Zeal offers no-code or low-code custom-branded worker apps for iOS and Android, with onboarding, I-9, paycards, wallets, paystubs and tax documents.Read 15 Oct 2026 · zeal.com
- Mobile app SSO
- The branded mobile app supports single sign-on using company credentials.Read 15 Oct 2026 · zeal.com
- Money-services licensing
- Puzzl Group Inc. states that it holds NMLS money-services licenses under ID 2277841.Read 15 Oct 2026 · zeal.com
- Multi-jurisdiction support
- Zeal dynamically captures jurisdictional information such as worker location, worksite state and withholding data for downstream payroll.Read 15 Oct 2026 · zeal.com
- Notable news: 2024 review
- In a January 15, 2025 year-in-review post, Zeal announced its $15 million Series B and described new onboarding, mobile-app, integrations and payroll features.Read 15 Oct 2026 · zeal.com
- Ongoing collection
- The onboarding flow can be reused to collect updates such as tax withholding changes, licenses, certifications, and paperwork.Read 7 Oct 2026 · zeal.com
- Ongoing updates
- The same configurable flows can collect later tax, licensing, certification and paperwork updates.Read 15 Oct 2026 · zeal.com
- Praise: API-first fit
- An independent HR software review praises Zeal's API-first architecture, white-label components and suitability for embedded payroll use cases.Read 15 Oct 2026 · hr.software
- Proprietary platform
- Zeal describes its embedded payroll infrastructure as proprietary rather than open-source.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.zeal.com
- Rating on Apple App Store
- 4.5 out of 5 from 16 ratingsRead 15 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
- Rating on Google Play
- 3.3 out of 5 from 8 reviewsRead 15 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
- Remote I-9
- Zeal supports remote I-9 reviews using mobile workflows, image capture, text invitations and location sharing.Read 15 Oct 2026 · zeal.com
- Security certification
- Zeal states that it maintains SOC 2 certification for security, availability and confidentiality.Read 15 Oct 2026 · zeal.com
- Target customers
- The onboarding product is aimed at staffing companies, labor marketplaces, EORs, PEOs and workforce-management platforms.Read 15 Oct 2026 · zeal.com
- Webhooks
- The developer documentation includes webhook guidance for reacting to payroll events in real time.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.zeal.com
- White-label embedding
- Companies can embed onboarding through Zeal APIs or use white-label flows under their own brand.Read 15 Oct 2026 · zeal.com
- Worker access
- Workers can complete onboarding in a desktop browser, mobile browser, or white-labeled mobile app if enabled.Read 7 Oct 2026 · support.zeal.com
Plans and prices
Strong points and limits
Strong points
- Handles onboarding for both 1099 and W-2 workers.
- Remote I-9 includes mobile capture and E-Verify confirmation.
- Custom documents can be assigned using rules.
- Flows can collect later tax and credential updates.
- API and listed integrations connect onboarding to other systems.
Limits
- Pricing is available on request.
- A white-labeled mobile app is available only if enabled.
Who it suits
Zeal describes Onboard for staffing companies, on-demand labor marketplaces, EOR/PEOs, and workforce-management tools. It may suit employers that need configurable worker onboarding with remote I-9 and E-Verify.
Verdict
Zeal Onboard covers worker onboarding, remote eligibility workflows, configurable documents, and ongoing information collection. Buyers should confirm pricing and which worker access options will be enabled.
Where Specifiction places it
- Employment Eligibility Verification Software#13 of 297.5